New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-02-16
WASHINGTON LETTER..
Washington, Feb. II. 1887

! . T. 4
AS to what Congress is doing and
talking about in these last weeks of its
life might be mentioned hundreds of
things if space permitted. The latest
legislation of importance includes near
ly hundred pension bills, the measure
prohibiting Congressman from acting
as attorneys for railroads and some OF
the regular appropriation bills, which
| always provoke debate. There were
some interesting debates during the
| week on the subject of reducing the
'surplus millions by building ships and
coast defenses, on the improperly Of
! Congressional funerals at public ex-
pense, and there was a political discus
sion sprung in which Democratic Sena-
tors INDUCED in criticism of the
| Administration.
! Mr.. Kelly of Penn, who is the Oldest
member of the House of Representa-
tives, spoke in favor of the bill author
| ling the appointment and prescribing
the Compensation of clerks to Senators
and Representatives who are not chair.
| men of committees as we'll as to those
years experience he said he had year
after year paid from his salary 5000 for
such services as he was obliged to en-
ploy q clerk to perform. He was now
paying gentleman 800 a month out
of his salary, and he believed if his
constituents knew the sacrifices he had
made to serve them they would shock
the public sense by making up o fund
to reimburse him.
Mr.. Kelly emphasized the fact that
he did not want q clerk to help him get
offices. He had declined a renomina-
ton in 1868 until plank was put in
the platform that he should not be ex-
pected to seek to administer the minor
offices of the government. For eigh-
teen years his constituents had elected
him with increasing majorities because
they found him serving the general in
terests of the people and leaving the Of
fees to the care Of those to whom the
Constitution and the laws confided
them.
Representative Curtin, the old war
| governor of Penn. also bore testimony
to the laborious round Of a Congress
mans life. He was going out of Con-
gress, but he was glad of an opportuni-
ty, before he went, to fire one stern gun
| in Justice to those who would come af-
ter him. .
Mr.. Randall and Speaker Carlisle
have been in correspondence more than
a week about the tariff. but the. last let.
ter left both wings of the party almost
as far apart rs ever on the question.
Should they finally harmonic suff-
GENTLY another effort will be made dur
ing the week to get the question of re-
venue reduction before the House. 1t
would fail, of course, as usual, and that
would end the matter for this session.
number of kilograms and letters indoors
ing his action in the case OF Mr.. Ma
thews, and the latter gentleman is also
the recipient of expressions of sympathy
from different parts of the country. 1t
is impossible to make u color issue out
of the rejection of the Presidents ap.
pointee tor Recorder OF Deeds, either
against the Senate or against the Re
| publican party. There was nothing
like ,,arty vote. Both Democrats and
Republicans voted against the nomina-
| ton.
Senator Vance. of North Carolina, a
Democratic member of the District
! Committee, said II voted against Ma
thews because he was negro carpet.
Dagger, aud don't care who knows
it,, Much curiosity is shown to know
what the President will do about the
matter next.
1t seems to be understood now that
Secretary Manning will soon retire from
the Cabinet and many believe that the
Treasury portfolio will be offered to
Minister Pendleton, gentleman
George, who has just returned to the
United States from Berlin. There is u
great deal of gossip to this effect, and
the fact that Mr.. Pend|eton returned at
the request of the President gives addi-
tional weight to the possibilities in his
case.
The recent passage of the Mexican
pension bill will necessitate the employ
ment of two hundred and fifty addition
al clerks in the Pension Office. Com
missioner Black is preparing for the
trying ordeal, and says that he will en-
deavor to complete the examination OF
the $4,000 applications from this source
before the expiration of the present fs-
cal year. Although the additional cler.
ical force, which is to be appointed, will
be required but a few months. applica.
: tons for appointment are being re.
) ceived daily, and the Commissioners
: thinks that there will be no fewer than
+ five thousand applications upon file by
the time of making appointment arrives.
The War Department has of lat
been engaged in collecting information
concerning the strength Of the militia
force OF the United States, and the re-
ports which have been received from
the Acknowledgements of the yariou:
States are very encouraging The re
norts fo1, the mast wear show q n increas,